The Persian Travels Book IV. 



ftrangers > and never ftirring out of their houfes. There are fome Armenians fpeak 

 Italian and French , as having learnt it in Europe. 



There are in Zulpha fifteen or fixteen Churches and Chappels of the Armenians, 

 among which you are to count two Nunneries for Women. There are in Jfpahan 

 Auftin-Vt'izxs , Carmelites , and Capuchins , and in Zulpha Jefuits. The Jefuits that 

 came laft have but a little Houfe, but to make them amends they have a large Garden. 

 Though the number of the Religious Teachers is far greater then the number of 

 Hearers : for in all Jfpaban and Zulpha, take the Franks that come out of Europe , or 

 born in Per fia , as well Men as Women, there are not fix hundred perfons that profefs 

 the Catholick Religion. As for the Armenians, they are fo obftinately fix'd to their* 

 own Religion , that they will hear of no other -, and nothing but Money has fome- 

 times caus'd them to feign the embracing of another. Friar Ambrofe a Capuchin ftaid 

 a while zi[Zulpha , to whom lèverai of the principal Armenians came to School to 

 learn French , in hopes of eftablifhing a Trade with France. But the Armenian 

 Archbifhop and Bifhops fearing left the Children fhould be infetted with fome other 

 Religion, excommunicated all Fathers that fent their Children to School. And finding 

 that they little regarded the Excommunication, they (hut up the Church doors , and 

 ftir'd up the People againfl the Religious Franks ; fo that Father Ambrofe was fore'd 

 to leave Perfia, and retire to Sur at. 



Moreover there are in JJpahan both Jews and Indian Idolaters. Nor are the Jews 

 fo miferable and beggarly, as they feem to be : they intrude, according to cuftom, into 

 all Bufmefs} fo that if any has a mind to buy or fell any rich Jewel , he need do no 

 more but fpeak to them. In the Reign of Sha-Abas, the Athemadoulet perfecuted them 

 fo grievoufly, that either by force or by cunning he caus'd them to turn Mahometans • 

 but the King underftanding that only power and fear had conftrain'd them to turn, 

 fufFer'd them to relume their own Religion , and to live in quiet. 



There are about ten or twelve thoufand Banians in Ijpahan, who are known by their 

 yellow Complexions, or rather by a yellow Mark made with Saffron upon the top of 

 their Foreheads. Their Turbants are lefs than ufual, and their Shooes are almoft like 

 ours, embroider'd with Flowers a-top. They are all Bankers, and very knowing in 

 Money. The greateft part of the Money of the principal Money'd men of JJpahan 

 is in their hands for improvement fake. So that if you want a confiderable Sum, you 

 may have it the next day upon good Security ,and paying fevere a Intereft,which thole 

 Banians will lqueez up fometimes to 1 8 per Cent. But if it be not very privately 

 exatted and paid, the Law of Mahomet , which forbids the taking of Intereft , lays 

 hold upon the whole Sum, and confifcates it every Penny. 



CHAP. VII. 



Of the Religion of the Perfians; of the great F e aft o/Hocen and 

 Huflcin, and the Camel-Feaft. 



f fi 1 H E difference among the Mahometans, doth not confift in the different 

 1 Explanations which they put upon the Alcoran ; but in the feveral Opi- 

 nions which they hold concerning the firft Succehors of Mahomet, from 



JL which have aris'n two particular Setts entirely oppofite -, the Sett of the 

 Sunnis, ancT the Sett of the Schiais. 



The firft, who are of theTnrki(h belief, maintain that AbouJtaker fucceeded im- 

 mediately to Mahomet, as his Vicar or Vicegerent to him Omar to Omar Ofman ; 

 to Ofman Mortuz.AU , Nephew and Son-in-law to Mahomet by Marriage of his 

 Daughter. That Ofman was Secretary to Mahomet , a perfon of Courage , as well 

 as the other three : and that they were all valiant Souldiers , and great Captains, 

 who extended their Conquefts more by force of Arms than by Reafon. And thence it 

 comes that the Sunnis will not allow of Difputes , but propagate and maintain their 

 Religion altogether by force. 



The Sdw'^, who are of the Perfian belief, deteft Aboubaker,Omar y and Ofman, as 

 Ufurpers to the Succeffion of Mahomet, which only belong'd to Haly, his Nephew 



and 



